BIRMINGHAM, Alabama -- The Birmingham City Council has just one day left to make a decision regarding rising healthcare costs for more than 500 retirees before doubled premiums, higher co-pay and increased deductibles take effect.

The city is self-insured, with Blue Cross/Blue Shield used as the administrator.

Retirees and union leaders had hoped the city weeks ago would have rescinded the policy and allowed the current plans to remain this fiscal year. However, no action has been taken after several committee meetings and work sessions.

Council President Johnathan Austin favors an alternative 'value plan' which would cost the city an additional $1.9 million as opposed to the $4.9 million to retain the old policy.

Under the value plan proposal, Austin said there would be increases to retirees, but the burden would be considerably less than the policy set to take effect.

However, David Crews, president of the Fraternal Order of Police and Don Baker, president of the Birmingham Firefighters Association said even the proposal 'value plan' puts retirees in financial jeopardy by paying 90 percent of surgeries and hospital stays rather than the current 100 percent.

Under that plan, they said just one major health incident would devastate some retirees on fixed incomes.

"If you have that one major procedure done at 90 percent, then you're done," Crews said.

Councilman Steven Hoyt, chairman of chairman of the Health and Benefits Board, favors funding the original plan for the rest of the year while creating a task force to evaluate long-term options.

Hoyt agrees with retirees that the process is too complex and important to rush for a quick fix.

"The best thing for us to do is rescind what we have done until we can get something clear," Hoyt said earlier.

Several council members at the last committee meeting appeared ready to endorse the value plan, but left in frustration without action because Mayor William Bell had not identified a required funding source for the new plan.